Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka just announced that fully vaccinated travellers do not need to take COVID-19 tests (PCR or Rapid Antigen test) before travelling to Sri Lanka.
The announcement states that as different countries have different phases of vaccination, for the inbound travellers, if the “recommended doses” of the COVID-19 vaccination are completed and if they depart from abroad two weeks after the completion of vaccination, they will be considered as “Fully Vaccinated”. Children of eighteen years and below, who have obtained at least a single dose of a recognized vaccine, will be considered as “Fully Vaccinated” if departed from abroad two weeks after completion of vaccination.
Additionally, travellers with a history of COVID-19 infection where the infection was detected between 7 days to 6 months before the date of departure with at least a single “dose of a two-dose vaccine will be exempted from the Pre-departure COVID-19 test as well. However, they should carry a diagnosis card or verifiable evidence or a previously positive COVID-19 test report (PCR report or Rapid Antigen Test report) as proof of the history of illness (in English).
All other travellers of twelve years and above arriving in Sri Lanka who are NOT Fully Vaccinated should mandatorily carry a negative COVID-19 PC test report in the English language done within 72 hours before embarkation OR Rapid Antigen Test report (self-swabs are disallowed) in the English language done within 48 hours before embarkation.
All travellers who have obtained COVID-19 vaccines should carry proof of vaccination in English throughout their travel. All the travellers who have a history of COVID-19 infection should depart after 7 days of onset of infection.
These guidelines are effective for travellers arriving in Sri Lanka via airports or seaports from 00:00 on 01st of March 2022. The Health Ministry of Sri Lanka also stated that these guidelines will be revised depending on the COVID-19 situation in the country and the global situation.
